Numeric Keypad Misbehaving

[Guest]

Hi,

I have a PC with a microsoft standard keyboard, running Windows XP
Professional SP2. However, the Numeric Keypad doesn't work properly - ie
displaying numbers when Num Lock is on, or behaving like the arrow keys etc
when Num Lock is off. Instead, if you press the number keys, different
programs launch: For example, 1 is search, 2 is Internet Explorer, and (I
think) 5 is Outlook.

I suspect this is a setting within XP somewhere (rather than a faulty
keyboard), but have gone through the keyboard and accessability options in
the Control Panel, and not found anything that even looks like the cause.
Help is too basic to contain such obscure problems - I've not seen anything
like this before in my ten years in IT! And as someone who relies on the
Numeric Keypad behaving itself, this is getting exasperating. Does anyone
have any ideas?

Many thanks in advance,
Keith

 

[Guest]

Dear Keith
I am having the same sort of problems. My Numeric keypad has decided not to
function since I had to do a re-install.
I'd like to know how to switch the number pad back on.

 

[Talahasee]

Dear Keith
I am having the same sort of problems. My Numeric keypad has decided not to
function since I had to do a re-install.
I'd like to know how to switch the number pad back on.

:

Just a guess, but I'd swap out the keypad. They're dirt
cheap. Last I looked at Office Depot/Office Max, they can be
had for $15.

I have several, one I just swapped out that had a bad right
Shift key.

HINT HINT:
The technology isn't always up to the job. I got a PS/2 -
usb adapter cable awhile back and plugged my PS/2 keyboard
into a usb port.

A few days later, I notice intermittent errors, like keys
getting stuck (I'd type a 5 and get 5,000 5s). I several
times had to do a HARD Reset to break out. Nothing more
annoying than typing a two-page e-mail, get 500 "t"s, and
have to hit the reset key-- losing the two-page e-mail, for
a darned adapter that isn't adapting.

My old rule for computing that I have SWORN by since I
heard Paul Harvey say it 10 years ago, "sometimes newer
technology simply isn't BETTER technology."

Sometimes, that pen and pad ARE preferable to running for
the computer.

Or the old standby, "Don't fix what ain't broke."

********

The SHORT version is, "test a couple of keyboards, and find
the one that is comfortable for you. It's an easy enough
solution to try a different keyboard for a day or two BEFORE
you go tinkering with your system! "


Good Luck!

Tallahassee



See my remarks above, Keith.

briefly, get a couple of new keyboards. Swap them out
occasionally. See if that LOW COST alternative solves your
problem.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Just a guess, but I'd swap out the keypad. They're dirt
cheap. Last I looked at Office Depot/Office Max, they can be
had for $15.

He just reinstalled Windows. After the reinstallation his numeric keyboard
stopped working. What are the chances of the reinstallation exactly
coinciding with the failure of his keyboard?

HINT HINT:
The technology isn't always up to the job. I got a PS/2 -
usb adapter cable awhile back and plugged my PS/2 keyboard
into a usb port.

HINT HINT. The answer to my question above is "very close to zero." Look
elsewhere for the solution to his problem. My guess is that he simply needs
to press the numlock key.

 

[Guest]

Goodness! I'd forgotten all about this!!!

I'd tried all the pro-active techie stuff to fix the problem, hence my
belief that the problem was a Windows setting somewhere that I hadn't been
able to find - and still can't. Accessability, perhaps? Exasperated (and with
no swift response from the newsgroup) I left it alone. A few days later, the
problem vanished as mysteriously as it appeared. I wish I could explain it.
And if anyone can, I'd be most interested.

Thanks anyway,
Keith